Best Router Bits: Sets from Top Brands

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A router is only as useful as the bits you put in it. A starter set gives you the common profiles at a low cost, so you can learn which bits you use most.

Below we compare seven router bit sets. First, check which shank sizes your router's collets accept.

OUR TOP PICK

Our top recommendation for the best router bits is the Yonico 17702 70 Bits Professional Quality Router Bit Set. This set comes with 70 carbide-tipped bits on 1/2-inch shanks for a wide range of projects.

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The Best Router Bit Sets Are:

Product	Details
1. Yonico 17702 70 Bits Professional Quality Router Bit Set	1. Yonico 17702 70 Bits Professional Quality Router Bit Set Top Pick	- No. of Pieces: 70 - Material: Carbide - Size: 1/2-Inch Shank - Weight: 13.62 pounds	Check Current Price
2. ABN Tungsten Carbide Router Bit Set	2. ABN Tungsten Carbide Router Bit Set	- No. of Pieces: 24 - Material: Carbide - Size: 1/4-Inch Shank - Weight: 2.44 pounds	Check Current Price
3. Stalwart Router Bit Set	3. Stalwart Router Bit Set	- No. of Pieces: 24 - Material: Carbide - Size: 1/4-Inch Shank - Weight: 1 pound	Check Current Price
4. Hiltex 10100 Tungsten Carbide Router Bits	4. Hiltex 10100 Tungsten Carbide Router Bits	- No. of Pieces: 15 - Material: Carbide, alloy steel - Size: ¼-Inch Shank - Weight: 1.25 pounds	Check Current Price
5. HQMaster CNC Router Bits – 10 Pieces	5. HQMaster CNC Router Bits – 10 Pieces	- No. of Pieces: 10 - Material: Solid Carbide - Size: 1/8-Inch Shank - Weight: 1.6 pounds	Check Current Price
6. MLCS 8377 15-Piece Router Bit Set	6. MLCS 8377 15-Piece Router Bit Set	- No. of Pieces: 15 - Material: Carbide - Size: 1/2-Inch Shank - Weight: 2.45 pounds	Check Current Price
7. Neiko 10115A Premium Tungsten Carbide Router Bits 80-Piece Set	7. Neiko 10115A Premium Tungsten Carbide Router Bits 80-Piece Set	- No. of Pieces: 80 - Material: Carbide - Size: 1/2-Inch Shank - Weight: 12.75 pounds	Check Current Price

1. Yonico 17702 70 Bits Professional Quality Router Bit Set

Yonico lists C3 micro-grain carbide tips, hardened steel bodies and a nonstick coating that helps resist pitch buildup. The kit covers the common profiles.

The bits have long 1/2-inch shanks, which suit both router tables and handheld routers with a 1/2-inch collet.

Yonico advertises a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

This is a set of 70 bits and they come in a beautiful wooden box. There are two keyholes drilled at the back of the box allowing for wall hanging.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 70
• Material: Carbide
• Size: 1/2-Inch Shank
• Weight: 13.62 pounds

Pros

• Packaging is secure for hassle-free transport
• Wide range of bits for different routing jobs
• Great option for starters

Cons

• Some users said that the wooden kit is a bit flimsy

Verdict

Affordable Industrial Quality Set of Bits: This set costs much less than buying 70 bits individually. Budget sets suit hobbyists well; professionals often replace their most-used profiles with premium bits.

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2. ABN Tungsten Carbide Router Bit Set

This router bit set comes with 24 pieces of shank bits that have a ¼-inch diameter. The cutting edge is made from Tungsten carbide that delivers on sharpness and precision.

A wooden storage case keeps the bits organized.

This kit has 24 pieces of router bits. That includes the most useful ones such as combination bevel, mortising bit, dovetail bits, grooving bit, round nose bits, trimming it, panel pilot bit, straight bits, flush-trim bit, round over bits, cove bits, roman ogee bit and many more.

Carbide edges stay sharp far longer than steel. This set is a good fit if you are starting out with a 1/4-inch collet router.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 24
• Material: Carbide
• Size: 1/4-Inch Shank
• Weight: 2.44 pounds

Pros

• All the basic bits you would need
• Delivers precise and sharp cuts, thanks to tungsten carbide cutting edge
• Ideal for professionals and beginners
• Budget-friendly option

Cons

• Some users said it dulled out easily

Verdict

Budget Starter Set: These bits are inexpensive and cover the basic profiles. Expect them to dull sooner than premium bits.

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3. Stalwart Router Bit Set

These carbide-tipped bits come in a labeled wooden box for easy organization.

This kit comes with 24 pieces of bits. You get all the bits you need for your construction work such as bits for trimming, designing, grooving, edging, and veining. Get this kit if you want all the basic router bits for getting a variety of woodwork done.

This kit comes with dovetail bits, round nose bits, mortising bits, panel pilot bit, a straight bit, flush-trim bit, radius round-over bit, and cove bit, to name a few.

It is an inexpensive kit for novice woodworkers and hobbyists.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 24
• Material: Carbide
• Size: 1/4-Inch Shank
• Weight: 1 pound

Pros

• Wide range of bits
• Inexpensive
• Very easy to use
• Carrying case for easy storage and transportation

Cons

• Some users said they had issues with longevity with this kit

Verdict

Great for Hobbyists: If you do not need a superior bits kit for more rigorous woodworking jobs, get this instead. It is a good basic set that has all the right features and functions that should work in cutting wood. Do not expect it to do major industrial woodwork done though but for its price, it is a fairly good set.

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4. Hiltex 10100 Tungsten Carbide Router Bits

This 15-piece set has YG8 tungsten carbide cutters on powder-coated alloy steel bodies.

The bits have 1/4-inch shanks, so they fit any router with a 1/4-inch collet.

The piloted bits use guide bearings. To help you keep the bits organized, this bit set comes with a nice wooden case.

The wooden case also allows for easy transportation of the bits. The bits are great for trimming, edging, grooving, and veining in any kind of woodworking project.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 15
• Material: Carbide, alloy steel
• Size: ¼-Inch Shank
• Weight: 1.25 pounds

Pros

• Inexpensive router bit set for 1/4-inch collets
• Wooden storage to keep all the bits organized
• Small set that covers the basics

Cons

• Some users said they are not the sharpest bits around.

Verdict

Precise Results: This compact 15-piece set gets basic jobs done at a low price.

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5. HQMaster CNC Router Bits – 10 Pieces

The HQMaster set is different from the others: these are small solid carbide CNC bits for carving and engraving.

Their shanks are 1/8 inch. Most handheld and table routers only have 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch collets, so these bits fit hobby CNC machines and rotary tools with a 1/8-inch collet, not a standard router.

You can use them for a wide range of projects including carving, engraving, cutting, slotting, sculpturing, and milling on materials such as PVC, MDF, resin, ABS, nylon, acrylic, hardwood, plastics, wood, plywood, and density board. The overall length of the bits is 38.5mm while the cutting edge length is 17mm.

Small solid carbide bits are brittle, so use light passes and the feeds your CNC software suggests. A simple plastic case is included.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 10
• Material: Solid Carbide
• Size: 1/8-Inch Shank
• Weight: 1.6 pounds

Pros

• Good for intricate CNC carving and engraving
• Very cheap
• Cuts wood, plastics and MDF

Cons

• 1/8-inch shanks do not fit standard routers
• The carrying case is not the best of quality

Verdict

Best for Intricate and Precise Cut: This 10-piece set suits intricate CNC work. Buy it only if your machine has a 1/8-inch collet.

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6. MLCS 8377 15-Piece Router Bit Set

The next router bit set on our list is the MLCS 8377 15-Piece Router Bit Set. If you are new to the woodworking space and you are looking for the best router bits, you might want to try this bit set out.

The bits are carbide tipped and inexpensive, though not as durable as premium bits.

This 15-piece set covers the basic profiles you need to get started.

One other reason why we highly recommend it for beginners is that it also comes with an Allen wrench, which means you have almost everything you need to get started.

It also comes with a conveniently sized and attractive wooden case to help you store and transport your bits easily. It is an economical, all-purpose starter set listed with 1/2-inch shanks.

The set includes 4 straight bits, a roundover bit, a roman ogee bit, a 45-degree chamfer bit, a flush-trim bit, a rabbeting bit, a dovetail bit and several others.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 15
• Material: Carbide
• Size: 1/2-Inch Shank
• Weight: 2.45 pounds

Pros

• Very attractive and conveniently sized storage case
• Has almost everything you need to get started with your carpentry
• Carbide tipped
• Affordable

Cons

• It is not the most durable

Verdict

Best for Beginners: If you are a beginner and you are looking for the best router bits, this is the perfect tool for you. This 15-piece router bit set comes with almost everything you need to get you started with your carpentry.

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7. Neiko 10115A Premium Tungsten Carbide Router Bits 80-Piece Set

The Neiko 10115A is an 80-piece set, the largest here, at a low price.

The bits use YG8 tungsten carbide tips. Quality is not the best, but you get a huge range of profiles to try before you invest in premium versions of the ones you use most.

Specs

• No. of Pieces: 80
• Material: Carbide
• Size: 1/2-Inch Shank
• Weight: 12.75 pounds

Pros

• 1/2-inch shanks for routers with a 1/2-inch collet
• A wide range of bits to pick from
• Inexpensive
• Aluminum storage box

Cons

• The quality of the bits could use some improvement

Verdict

Highly Versatile: With 80 carbide-tipped bits, this is the most versatile set on our list for the price.

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Common Router Bits Used By Professionals

Whether you are a professional carpenter or contractor or a hobbyist, you will find the following router bits indispensable to your line-up of tools.

Here are the different types of router bits used by professionals:

Straight Bits

Your bit kit will never be complete without straight bits. They cut straight down into the material, so you can make a dado: a groove cut across the grain.

If you are doing inlays or mortise work, you can also hollow it out with the help of straight bits. Straight bits are available in different lengths and diameters.

Flush-Trim Bits

You should look for these bits if you are trimming the edges of a certain material into another material’s edge.

You can also use this if you plan to make pieces that are identical. With the help of a pilot bearing, you can get this job done.

Rabbeting Bits

This should be another staple in your arsenal. A rabbeting bit uses a pilot bearing to cut a shoulder, called a rabbet, along a board's edge. Rabbets are common in joinery, such as cabinet backs. Most sets include one.

Chamfer Bits

If you need to cut a specific angle or you make many decorative edges, you should have chamfer bits. You can also use this for the creation of beveled edges that are useful when it comes to making multi-sided projects.

This is useful when it comes to creating baskets, planters, boxes, and many more decorative pieces.

Edge Forming Bits

Here is another bit that you can use to create decorative edges. You can get round-over bits to create rounded edges, Ogee bits to create S-shaped cuts, Cove bits to create quarter-circle shapes and Edge beading bits to form half-circle shapes.

There are also specialized bits you can get. These specialized bits are there if there are special shapes you need to create.

Molding bits, for instance, allows you to create multiple edges. If you need special shapes for creating cabinet doors and raised panels, look for specialized bits.

Questions To Ask When Buying Router Bits

A complete set gets you started cheaply. If you are buying individual bits, ask yourself these questions:

Is There A Specific Project You Need The Router Bits For?

If you are assembling a kit of router bits, that should narrow down your options to the ones mentioned earlier.

Those are the router bits that should be included in your kit, to ensure that you have everything you need for different projects.

However, if you have a specific project you have in mind, consider the style and shape you need, to find one the bits you should buy for that project.

How Often Will You Use That Router Bit?

Some router bits have similar functions but there are those that might have multiple uses. If you do many woodworking projects, you need those multi-purpose router bits that have a variety of uses.

If you will only use that bit occasionally, you might have to think twice before spending money on it.

How Much Is A Comfortable Budget For You?

While router bit kits are usually more affordable, it is still a good idea to set a reasonable budget for it. Generally, the more you will spend on it, the more router bits you can get.

How Are You Going To Use Your Router?

Will you use the router by hand or in a table? Large bits, such as panel-raising and stile-and-rail bits, should only be used in a router table, on a router with variable speed, at a reduced speed. Larger-diameter bits need slower speeds, so always follow the bit maker's maximum RPM.

What Shank Size Do I Need?

The size of the shank is another vital thing you need to consider on your quest for the best router bits. In most cases, you would have to choose between the two basic shank sizes, which are 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch.

While some routers can use both shank sizes, some of them can only use a particular shank size. As such, you need to make sure you buy router bits that come with the shank size your router supports.

Where your router accepts both, choose 1/2-inch shanks: they are stiffer, vibrate less and are less likely to break than 1/4-inch shanks.

Carbide cutters stay sharp much longer than steel. Thicker carbide can be resharpened more times. In general, cheaper bits dull sooner, so serious hobbyists and shops often buy premium bits for the profiles they use most.

Router Bit Safety

Unplug the router before changing bits, as OSHA advises for all power tools. Insert the shank most of the way into the collet without bottoming it out, then tighten firmly.

Never use a bit that is chipped, bent or has a loose bearing. Wear eye and hearing protection and use dust collection, since wood dust can harm your lungs.

Conclusion

If you do not have a wood router yet, check out our article on the best routers and how to choose one. Our top pick is the Yonico 17702 70 Bits Professional Quality Router Bit Set because its 70 carbide-tipped, 1/2-inch shank bits cover a wide variety of projects at a low price.

Sources

• Hand and Power Tools (OSHA 3080), OSHA
• Wood Dust, OSHA